For centuries, fashion has inspired, fostered creativity, sparked innovation and brought joy. However, the industry and its endless offerings can be harmful to the environment.
In fact, it’s the second-biggest consumer of water and responsible for about 10 percent of global carbon emissions. But there is good news! Eco-friendly fashion is more in demand than ever, with consumers and designers prioritizing sustainability.
“If I were celebrating one thing in the fashion industry today, it’s that they’re so willing to change the narrative,” Dr. Karen Pearson, Fashion Institute of Technology professor and chair of the school’s sustainability effort, shared with Us Weekly exclusively. Here, we salute some of the stars and designers making a (still stylish) impact.
ARCHIVAL AESTHETIC
Everything old is new (and hot!) again. Rocking pre-loved pieces has become a major Hollywood trend, and nobody has committed to it like Zendaya, who’s brought new life to archival items from Bob Mackie, Mugler, Maison Margiela and more. With Law Roach as her longtime image architect, it’s no surprise: Roach — who started his career with the now-defunct Deliciously Vintage clothing store — has made it his personal mission to reinvent iconic looks.
“I’ve been championing vintage for all of my career, and I was at the forefront of bringing vintage and archival to the red carpet,” he’s said. “I think the easiest way to be sustainable is just to wear something someone else has already worn and purchased.” Other stars famous for wearing archival and vintage stunners include Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber and Amal Clooney, to name a few.
STEP AND REPEAT
Even in the glamorous world of celebrities, there’s no shame in repeating outfits. “We’ve seen over the last decade [that fashion] used to be seasonal, now it’s trans-seasonal, multiseasonal and brands are designing for outlet stores,” Cate Blanchett has said. “When you know the world is consuming 18 billion pieces of clothing a year, which is up 400 percent from a decade ago, you think, ‘This is not working.’” And that is why the Black Bag actress has become known as the Queen of Sustainable Fashion. “This is not some strange club. I’m not the only person doing this,” she said. In fact, the club is getting larger all the time: Everyone from Kate Middleton to Halle Berry and Tiffany Haddish has recycled red-carpet looks.
FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
Angelina Jolie’s children have taken an eco-friendly approach to dressing by shopping her closet, a lesson they no doubt learned from their Oscar-winning mom. “We did all vintage and upcycled my old stuff,” the actress said of her family while on the red carpet at the 2021 Los Angeles premiere of Eternals. The actress went on to launch her purpose-driven label, Atelier Jolie, in 2023 and backed New York’s Fashion Act, aiming to make the industry more sustainable. She noted, “Everyone is aware, I think, of the waste of natural resources, overconsumption and overproduction and labor rights violations that currently take place in the industry and society as a whole.”
ECO-CHIC
“Who says sustainability can’t be sexy?” asked designer Stella McCartney, who’s been a leader in eco-friendly design since 2001, after debuting a jumpsuit with the first-ever biodegradable sequins modeled by Cara Delevingne in the pages of Vogue. The designer continues to lead the way through her use of innovative fabrics and her commitment to circular fashion.
While McCartney set the bar for sustainable red carpet dressing, many designers are following suit — especially when it’s at the request of an A-lister! “If I’m going to go to the Met Ball, there has to be solar panels on my head, or I’m not going,” joked Amanda Seyfried, who asked Prada to create a gown for last year’s annual Costume Institue gala. The result? A striking silver confection that was repurposed from the fashion house’s Spring 2009 collection.
Sustainability is also at the forefront for celeb-loved labels like Reformation. Kacey Musgraves recently joined forces with the eco-friendly clothing label (which has been 100 percent carbon-neutral since 2015) on a capsule collection. “Partnering with an earth-conscious brand I’m organically a fan of was such a joy,” the country singer said.
These are just a few examples of the many celebrities, designers and brands working towards sustainability. “We should celebrate the innovations, and we should absolutely cheer for anybody who is willing to talk and try to do things differently,” Dr. Pearson noted. “We’re starting to see real movement and power towards that direction.”
And that’s good for all of Us!
HOW YOU CAN DO YOUR PART
If you’re in a position to splurge, take note from some of Hollywood’s best-dressed A-listers and dip your toes into the pre-loved luxury fashion market by shopping styles from the stars. In February, Paris Hilton contributed 100 of her most iconic clothing and accessories to Vestiaire Collective’s celebrity closet sale, which benefitted Los Angeles wildfire relief. Olivia Rodrigo worked with circular fashion marketplace Depop in 2021 to raise funds for charity by offering items from music video sets and her personal closet.
Or, shop secondhand where the stars do, like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner’s favorite luxury resale destination, What Goes Around Comes Around, which recently partnered with mega-retailer Amazon to offer treasures from the likes of Dior, Fendi and more — all verified by the platform’s independent “in-house professional authentication process” prior to listing.
But you don’t have to break the bank to reduce your carbon footprint. With proper care for your clothes, you can extend their life, which is good for the planet and your finances. (Check out earthday.com for tips on garment care.) When it’s time for a closet cleanse, donate gently used items to a local charity or sell items in good condition with potential resale value on sites like The ReaReal, eBay, Poshmark and ThredUp. (The RealReal, in particular, has helped keep over 31 million items in circulation since its inception in 2011.)
Another idea? Don’t be afraid to get creative — whether that means turning your old jeans or T-shirts into a homespun tote bag or patchwork quilt, the possibilities are endless. For more ideas, visit upcyclemystuff.com.
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